Orders, Decorations and Medals

A fine Kohima operations M.M. group of five awarded to Acting Naik Ali Badshah, 4/15th Punjab Regiment - ‘By the time he reached the top of the objective all the men in his section with the exception of himself and one other I.O.R. were wounded’

Military Medal, G.VI.R. (7691 A./Naik Ali Badshah, 15 Punjab R.), officially engraved naming; 1939-45 Star; Burma Star; War Medal 1939-45; India Service Medal 1939-45, generally good very fine (5) £700-900

M.M. London Gazette 5 October 1944. The original recommendation states:

‘On 25 May 1944, ‘B’ Company, 4/15 Punjab Regiment were ordered to attack a feature “Church Knoll” in the Kohima area. Acting Naik Ali Badshah was a section commander in one of the leading platoons. As the Platoon neared its objective it came under heavy fire from an enemy 75mm. gun and suffered casualties. Naik Ali Badshah led his men on in spite of heavy opposition from grenades and L.M.G. fire. By the time he reached the top of the objective all the men in his section with the exception of himself and one other I.O.R. were wounded. He continued to lob grenades into the enemy bunker whilst the wounded men of his section were evacuated. Only when all the wounded of his section had been evacuated did he withdraw. This N.C.O. set a wonderful example of leadership to the remaining sections of his platoon. His action inspired all who saw him and is worthy of high praise.’

Ali Badshah was a native of Dhab in the district of Kohat.

The assault on “Church Knoll” by the 4/15th Punjabis on 25 May 1944 was supported by “Hurribombers” and over 900 shells from the Royal Artillery’s medium batteries. But, as proved the case in two previous attacks mounted by British infantry regiments, the Japanese remained firmly in possession of their reinforced bunkers.